I want to say “Thanks a lot” to those adults who have influenced me through children’s programs and musicals growing up in church. Thank you for forever filling my head with screwed up Christmas carols, strange Christmas songs, silly Easter songs and just plain fun songs. Not to mention some silly ideas that go along with said programs and musicals.
My first memory of a children’s program is when my family attended Massillon Church of the Nazarene back, sometime around the late 70′s. In any case, I seem to recall a nice lady by the name of Ruth Motz teaching us children songs, and a series of scenes that revolved around the story of Noah and the ark. I believe it was titled Get on Board, Children. This musical had songs like, “No, no, Noah,” “What do you do on a rainy day in an ark?” and “There’s gonna be rain and thunder, lots of lightning.” And of course there were scenes that included Noah’s grandkids trying to stay out trouble while looking for something to do on a rainy day, in an ark. They couldn’t even go fishing, for crying out loud. Why couldn’t they fish? Well, they only had two worms. A fact that Grandma had to remind them about. Thank you, Ruth. I still have some of those lyrics and scenes running through my mind, even today.
The next program I remember was also done at Massillon Nazarene. However, this one was directed by my mother, Barbara Hamman. The title of this one was Super Gift From Heaven. This musical took place in a toy store, and had songs like When the gifts come flowing in (to the tune of, you guessed it, When the Saints Go Marching in, of course). It included characters like Freddie Freckles (played by yours truly) and Amanda (played by my childhood “nemesis”) and a left over Easter bunny with a tear, who, with a few stitches and a new vest, is transformed into a Christmas rabbit! Whoever heard of a Christmas rabbit?! The absolute worst thing about this musical, at the time, for me, was having to look at the girl playing Amanda and tell her “You’re really pretty.” Remember, that girl was my nemesis. (Just between you and me, though, she was kinda cute. Just don’t tell my mother I finally admitted it.) I also began to learn a hard lesson with that musical. Freddie was supposed to have a solo, but the director decided it should be a duet. Well, there was no way I was singing a duet with the girl I just knew was the bane of my existence. So, I was a “gentleman,” and let her have the spotlight. Yep, pride got in my way, and I completely ignored the message, that Jesus was the best gift ever.
The next two programs, I’m not sure what order they were done in, but my mother gets the blame for the silly songs and scenes left in my head from them too. They were both done at Akron Arlington Church of the Nazarene. Now I must also bear some responsibility for these next two, because by this time I was an adult, they were done in the late 1988/1989, and I was helping my mother.
The first one was another Easter program, We Like Sheep. As you can imagine, the main characters were sheep, and the message was that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. But now I have songs with phrases like “We like sheep, we like sheep ’cause sheep is what we are. ‘Cause sheep is what we are we think they’re the best by far… we repeat we truly do like sheep.” Add to that scenes like the one between a lamb and an older sheep where the sheep says to the lamb: “Were you born yesterday?” To which the little lamb replies “last night, as a matter of fact.”
Now, for the musical that has really screwed up my brain. To this day, even when leading worship, I have a hard time singing Joy to the World correctly. The correct first line, as most of us know starts “Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king.” But nope. Thanks to the musical 365 Days of Christmas, even as I look at the printed page, my brain looks at the song, hears the music and causes me to want to sing “Joy to the world, March, April, May. It’s Christmas every day.” I think there is even a song in there about Santa surfing. I also remember a scene where a girl is talking about her brother wanting a “ray gun that really ZAPS people.”
So what’s the real purpose of this little rant down memory lane. Well, because in spite of this post being disguised as a rant, I really do want to thank my mom, Barb Hamman, Ruth Motz, and all the other adults who insist on doing children’s, or teen, musicals, year after year. The season doesn’t matter. What does matter is the message. And if our minds have been filled with crazy Christmas carols, silly songs for Christmas or Easter, or just plain silly songs, well, they are cause to celebrate good memories and fun times, as we continue to serve our “great big wonderful God.” Just be patient if the next time you start to sing an old familiar hymn, or other tune, and someone starts singing some strange new words. Better yet, if those strange words seem oddly familiar, that probably means you’ve been part of a children’s musical too, so join in and sing it with the odd words, just for fun.
So again, Mom and Ruth, and all those who helped, thank you. I really am thankful.
And Shelly, if you ever read this, please accept my apology, and forgive me for being your nemesis, and possibly the bane of your childhood and early teens.